FR2748973A1 - CONTROL DEVICE FOR AN AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEM OF A MOTOR VEHICLE - Google Patents

Abstract

In order to activate the automatic mode of an air conditioning system, the current state of the art provides for a push button separate from the other control elements. According to the invention, at least one control element (3, 3a), movably mounted in a control plane with a view to manual adjustment of a service function of the air conditioning system, in particular by a potentiometer (6), is also mounted axially movable (arrow A), perpendicular to the control plane, and this axial mobility is used to actuate a switching device (8) for the automatic operation of the air conditioning system. Applicable to the simplification of the control of automobile air conditioners.

Description

The invention relates to a control device

  for an air-conditioning system of a motor vehicle

  bile, comprising at least one control element placed in an area of the passenger compartment of the vehicle and movably mounted in a control plane for the manual adjustment of a service function, and a switching device for actuation an automatic service function

air conditioning system.

  Such a control device is known by the

  DE 38 21 702 Ai. It includes several

  rotary or roller motors for manual adjustment of

  defined service functions of the air conditioning system

  tion. The device further comprises a push switch for switching on and off an automatic service function of the air conditioning system, wherein the system is regulated in an automatic mode preset by the vehicle manufacturer. For controlling

  automatic mode, in addition to the

  tatives or pebbles, a push button. Since the air-conditioning system is generally used by several people, the control device has been equipped with a memory that can be activated by means of a memory key made as a step-by-step command key.

  help from which settings can be recalled.

  vorable individually to different users of the

  service function with manual adjustment.

  The object of the invention is to create a device

  control, of the type mentioned at the beginning, allowing by simple means individual adjustments of a

  service function, as well as automatic operation

  tick, with memorization of the manually set service function.

  According to the invention, this result is achieved.

  the fact that the control element is furthermore mounted axially mobile, perpendicular to the control plane, and that the switching device for actuating the automatic service function of the air conditioning system is in operative connection with the axial mobility of the control element. The axial movement of the control element makes it possible to activate or deactivate the automatic operation of the air conditioning system without changing the position of the control element with regard to the previously manually set service function. The device

  of the invention is particularly advantageous.

  tageux if it is applied to a control element in the form of a rotary knob which is further axially displaceable, along its axis of rotation, to activate and

disable the automatic mode.

  According to a development of the invention, the side

  before the control element is aligned, when the

  its outermost axial position, with the outer contour of a border surrounding the control element and provided in or forming part of said zone of the passenger compartment, and the activation of the automatic service function by the apparatus Switching is coordinated

  at this extreme inner position. By this method of

  of the invention, access to the element is prevented

  control for manual adjustment of a service function.

  vice while the automatic service function is activated since it is impossible to manually enter the control element because it is then embedded in said border. Manual control can not be

  that position, that after a further

  the element, which again deactivates the automatic operation and causes a mechanism to

  spring which pushes the control element towards the outside.

  beyond the outer contour of the border,

  than at its outermost position.

  Other features and advantages of the

  will become clearer from the description

  which will follow of a preferred embodiment, but

  in no way restrictive, and of the annexed drawing, on the-

  which: - Figure 1 represents a first element of

  command corresponding to an embodiment of a

  positive control according to the invention for an air conditioning system of a passenger car; FIG. 2 represents another control element of a control device according to the invention

  for an air-conditioning system of a passenger car

  ism; FIG. 3 is a schematic section of a

  part of the control device at the height of a

  command, which occupies its extreme external position

  higher; - Figure 4 schematically shows the element

  in accordance with FIG. 3 at its innermost extreme position.

  higher; and - Figure 5 schematically represents a

  central control unit of the control device.

  A passenger car is equipped with a known air-conditioning system by means of which the interior of the car can be air-conditioned. The system can have only one heating function, but also be provided with a cooling function, so that the term "air conditioning system" used in this specification covers both

  heating and combined heating and cooling systems

  froidissement. To control the air conditioning system

  have been installed in a dashboard of the

  ture, representing an area of the passenger compartment in the sense of the invention, a control device which comprises a plurality of positioning or adjustment elements and probing or key elements which represent elements of

  control of the device. These elements require, through

  to appropriate devices and / or switching and control devices, the different functional units of the air-conditioning system, such as air shutters,

  a fan, a cooling compressor and

  gists. The air conditioning system can either be manually adjusted in its service functions by means of the control elements of the control device, according to the individual needs of a user, or be brought by

  a switching device to an automatic mode in the-

  which is controlled according to a prefixed functional setting

  by the vehicle manufacturer. In an example of

  In the embodiment of the invention, the control device is housed in a console in the rear part of the passenger compartment, which also represents a parking zone.

  the passenger compartment in the sense of the invention.

  According to the invention, the automatic operation of the air conditioning system can be activated and deactivated by a control element 3, 3a which serves at the same time to manually adjust a range of service function. The control element 3, 3a therefore has a dual function. For manual adjustment of a function range

  of the air conditioning system, the element of com-

  Mande 3 is realized as a rotating knob rotat-

  tif around a geometric axis of rotation 4. The element 3 is integrated in the control panel 1 of the control device, which at the same time represents the front face

  of the dashboard. Element 3 is surrounded by one year

  indicator 2 which, in the context of the

  has a border of the dashboard. The control element 3a according to FIG. 2 essentially corresponds to the arrangement of the control element 3 according to FIG. 1. The element 3a is, however, provided for the control of another range of service function of the control system. air conditioner. For this reason, the indicator ring 2a, which surrounds the control element 3a, is provided with other symbols. The element 3a is nevertheless also realized as a rotary knob for the manual adjustment of the range of

  relevant service function of the air conditioning system.

  Element 3 according to FIG. 1 serves to control a

  air-conditioning system fan, while the

  3a according to FIG. 2 serves for the actuation of shutters

  air vents opening into the passenger compartment. To ac-

  switch on or off the automatic mode, ie from the service function range to which the element is coordinated

  3 or 3a concerned, or of the whole of the

  the air conditioning system, the com-

  Mande 3, 3a is further mounted axially movable in the direction of its axis of rotation 4. For this purpose, the element 3,

  3a is provided with a mechanical axis coaxial with the geometric axis

  rotation shaft 4 and whose lower end

  3, forms an operating rod for the actuation of a switching key 8. This key is part of the switching device.

  used to activate and deactivate the automatic mode.

  Activation and deactivation of this mode are therefore

  produced by adequate axial movement, following the

  rection of the double arrow A, the control element 3,3a and the operating rod connected in one piece to him. The switching signals produced by the rod of

  maneuver, that is to say, by the axis 5 and the element of com-

  3.3a, and delivered by the key 8, are transmitted by coordinated conductors of a printed circuit 9 as digital signals sent by a line Sd to a central control unit 10 (Figure 5). The signals are used in this unit and transmitted to various

  pilot outputs Sd.,. who drive the power units

  corresponding training courses of the different organizations

  functional units of the air conditioning system. The rules

  these manuals service function ranges by a ro-

  the control element 3,3a are transmitted by means of a rotary potentiometer connected by

  connections 7 and coordinated conductors of the im-

  awarded to the Central Control Unit 10. The potential

  meter 6 sends analog signals Sa to the unit of

  pilot, which activates again after a

  signals, the different Sdiv pilot outputs for the functional components of the

  air conditioner. For this purpose, axis 5 of the communication element

  3a, 3a is rotatably coupled to the rotary potentiometer

  tative 6, but with the possibility of moving axially-

  relative to this potentiometer, which is axially

  still. Inside the control element 3,

  3a, there is further provided a spring system, not shown

  felt, which acts axially and represents, in combination with several stop positions of the control element

  3, 3a, a so-called repeated driving mechanism ("push-pull"

push ") for element 3, 3a.

  At its outermost position, the control element 3, 3a protrudes outwards with respect to the outer contour of the indicator ring 2, 2a, as can be seen in FIG. 3, so that it can be entered manually and turned to that position. The mode

  automatic switch off in this extreme position ex-

  térieure. To activate the automatic mode of the air conditioning system, the control element 3, 3a is simply

  depressed, with the result that the extreme position

  (Figure 4) is reached by means of the recoil mechanism. The automatic mode is activated in this inner end position, in which the front side of the control element 3, 3a is aligned with the outer contour of the indicator ring 2, 2a, as one

  can be seen in Figure 4, so that it is impossible to

  sible to enter this item manually for the purpose of

  tation. A new depression of this element makes it

  Elastically to its outermost position according to Figure 3. The automatic mode is again disabled at the same time. Because a rotation of the element of

  command 3, 3a is impossible while the automatic mode

  tick is activated, its angular position - previously set according to individual needs - can not be

  to be changed in automatic mode. After deactivation

  of the latter, element 3, 3a thus occupies again,

  automatically, the previously set manual position-

  LEMENT. A new manual setting is therefore

perfluous.

  Instead of a switch or a button

  pushbutton installed in the axis of the control element for switching on and off the automatic service function of the air conditioning system, it is also possible to provide a Hall effect sensor with a suitable magnet. AT

  instead of a rotary potentiometer 6 for manual adjustment

  nual of the service function range in question it

  It is also possible to provide keys installed

  which can be operated in a stepwise manner by a cam, so that a step-by-step

  possible. In the same way, we can also foresee a

  Optical sensing that counts rotational pulses. This

  embodiment also requires a unit of

  moire counting the rotational impulses. Components

  associated electronic devices act on commu-

  corresponding digital or analog mande of the unit

piloting 10.

  In the case of the exemplary embodiment

  the manual setting of the service function

  is effected by a rotational movement of the com-

  mande. However, it is also possible to

  control unit moved in translation in the plane of the control panel for manual adjustment. In this

  axial depression to activate the automatic function.

  tick corresponds to the exemplary embodiment

previously described.

Claims (2)

  1. Control device for an air-conditioning system of a motor vehicle, comprising at   least one control element placed in a zone of the   vehicle and mounted in a control plane for the manual adjustment of a service function, as well as a switching device for actuation   an automatic service function of the   matisation, characterized in that the control element   (3, 3a) is further mounted axially movable, perpendicular   the control plane, and that the communication device   mutation (8) for actuating the service function   automatic vice of the air conditioning system is in   its functional with the axial mobility of the element of control (3, 3a).   2. Control device according to the claim   1, characterized in that the front side of the control element (3, 3a) is aligned, when the element occupies its inner extreme axial position, with the outer contour of a border (2, 2a) surrounding the 'element of   command (3, 3a) and provided for in or part of the-   cabin area, and that the activation of the   automatic service by the switchgear   (8) is coordinated to this inner extreme position.